David Domoney and RHS Call on Parents to Get Gardening as 16,000 schools register for campaign

Thursday 25 October 2012

Television gardener, David Domoney is calling on parents to get gardening with their children for Get Your Grown Ups Growing month this October, as the RHS celebrates the 16,000th registration to its schools campaign.

Each October, schools are invited to hold a grown-ups growing event so they can involve their local community to help develop the school garden.

Get Your Grown Ups Growing forms part of RHS Campaign for School Gardening – a national initiative, which turned five last week, that supports over half of all UK schools use a garden as a learning environment.

David says: “What a fantastic achievement it is that we now have 16,000 schools signed up to the campaign! This means at least 3.2million children are now gardening but it’s not just youngsters who can benefit. We know there is a missing generation of gardeners so we am calling on those adults who didn’t get to enjoy the wonders of gardening at school, to come back to school over October. We’re not asking you to sit any exams, attend any lessons – just pick up a trowel and do some digging!”

Sarah Cathcart, RHS Head of Education, said: “Having a school garden is a fantastic resource for teachers and pupils as it provides a multitude of learning opportunities and allows schools to grow fresh fruit and vegetables for school dinners. However, we know it can take a lot of hard work to maintain so involving parents and local adults will ensure the gardens will be looked after all year round and enthusiasm for gardening and growing will spread beyond the school gates and into children’s homes.”

The RHS hopes to see 2,000 schools register for this year’s event almost doubling last year’s entries. All registered schools will be entered into a free prize draw to win garden tools and materials.

To register to take part in this year’s event, held in October 2012, schools must sign up to the RHS Campaign for School Gardening via www.rhs.org.uk/schoolgardening and click on the ‘Get Your Grown-ups Growing’ button featured in the menu on the home page. Schools must register to receive a free support pack; including seeds, event ideas, information templates, stickers and much more. Each individual school can choose any date in October to hold its event and organise activities to suit its requirements.

Last year, an RHS survey discovered a lost generation of gardeners. The survey of 500 children, parents and grandparents found that less than 1% of parents gardened at school compared to 55% of grandparents and 40% of children.

-Ends-

Notes to editors

About the Campaign for School Gardening
The RHS actively involves nearly 16,000 schools across the UK in growing and gardening through its Campaign for School Gardening. Children are taught about plants and gardening and their environment. Through gardening they learn about healthy fruit and vegetables, wildlife and important life skills such as teamwork, social skills and co-operation. Huge benefits are to be had from using an outdoor classroom where children can learn in a fun, engaging way. Information, lesson plans and advice for schools is provided online and is backed up by support from the RHS education team and Campaign for School Gardening Regional Advisors. www.rhs.org.uk/schoolgardening

About the RHS
The Royal Horticultural Society is the UK’s foremost gardening charity, helping and inspiring millions of people to garden. We do this at our gardens and shows and through our scientific research, publications, libraries and our education and community programmes. We are entirely funded by our members, visitors and supporters.

RHS membership is for anyone with an interest in gardening. Support the RHS and secure a healthy future for gardening. For more information call: 0845 130 4646, or visit www.rhs.org.uk

About the RHS

The RHS believes that gardening improves the quality of life and that everyone should have access to great garden experiences. As a charity we help to bring gardening into people's lives and support gardeners of all levels and abilities; whether they are expert horticulturists or children who are planting seeds for the very first time.

RHS membership is for anyone with an interest in gardening. Support the RHS and secure a healthy future for gardening. For more information call: 0845 130 4646, or visit www.rhs.org.uk